FERAL FACTS

Tabby Cat

Feral cats have lived outdoors among people for 10,000 years; they have lived here in the U.S. for hundreds of years. Here are just a few facts you should know about feral cats.

Feral cats are domestic cats—the same species as pet cats. Unlike pet cats, they are unadoptable.
Feral cats are typically wary of humans. They live content lives outdoors. Unlike stray cats—who were formerly pet cats, but are separated from their homes—feral cats are not socialized to people.

Feral cats are just as healthy as pet cats.
Feral cats thrive in all landscapes—from the most rural to the inner city. Studies show them to be as healthy as cats who live indoors.

Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNvR) improves cats’ lives.With TNvR, cats are humanely trapped and taken to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ear tipped (the universal symbol of a neutered and vaccinated cat). Healthy feral cats are then returned to their outdoor home. Unlike the failed, costly, and cruel catch and kill approach, TNvR is effective because it stabilizes the population, improves the cats’ health, and ends behaviors associated with mating – like yowling, roaming, and fighting. TNvR is practiced in communities all across the U.S. and endorsed by national animal protection organizations.

Animal shelters are no place for a feral cat.More than 70% of cats taken to animal pounds and shelters are euthanized. For feral cats, that number rises to virtually 100% because feral cats are not candidates for adoption. Hundreds of millions of dollars are wasted every year on this pointless and cruel policy.